The Eyes Of A God - The Eyes of a God Part 38
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The Eyes of a God Part 38

Cassandra jumped at the intrusion. She whirled toward the castle and saw a figure in the feeble light.

When she saw it wasn't Lukien, her hoped crashed. And her fear spiked.

'Great Fate," she gasped. "You're not..."

She turned her face away, wanting to bolt. But suddenly she realized there was nowhere to run. The figure was blocking her way.

'Go!" she cried. "Don't look at me!"

'What?" She heard the figure moving toward her, grass crunching beneath his feet. "No, don't be afraid..."

'Go away!" Cassandra looked toward the trees, dashing quickly for their cover. She had been seen, but it was dark and maybe she would be all right. She hurried through the garden toward a tangled stand of pear trees.

'Wait," pleaded the figure. His voice was young, like a boy's. Terrified, Cassandra ran for the trees and collided with a stout limb. Pain shot through her head. The world winked briefly out of existence, and when she opened her eyes again she was on her back. Wet ground soaked her legs and backside. Hurriedly she tried to sit up, but soon saw an unfamiliar face hovering over her.

'Are you all right?"

Cassandra heard the voice through a fog of pain. Her bleary eyes focused on the face, and saw the most sublime concern there.

'I'm dead," she moaned.

The boy didn't take her meaning. "No, you'll be all right," he said gently. He knelt down beside her, cradling his hand beneath her head and studying the bruise she knew was rising on her forehead.

Cassandra thought of rolling free and running off, but she knew it was too late-she had been seen. All she could do now was wait until the cancer ate her insides again.

'Great Fate," she whispered, "I'm going to die..."

She reached to her chest and clasped the amulet beneath her dress, expecting to feel its ruby cold with death. Instead the gem still pulsed with warmth. Cassandra took a slow, calming breath.

Remarkably, there was no pain in her belly, just the sharp agony from the blow to her skull.

And you have to get back to your rooms. If Akeela comes looking for me..."

'I'll tell him you're in your room, sleeping." Jancis grimaced, then held out her arms. "Good luck, Cass."

Cassandra embraced her friend, a lump springing into her throat. "Thanks," she whispered. She kissed Jancis on the cheek. "I will see you again."

Jancis chuckled through her tears. "How do you know that?"

'I have faith," Cassandra said. "Now go."

With one last, forlorn smile, Jancis turned and walked quickly down the hall, leaving Cassandra hiding in the shadowy corner. Cassandra waited until her footfalls disappeared. The wing attained a cryptlike silence. She spied the doors, those magic portals that would take her back in time. But she could not bring herself to go to them.

Second thoughts, Cass? she asked herself. No.

It was like she'd told Jancis-she wanted this more than anything. Freedom lay just outside those doors, freedom that would flare like a shooting star before quickly burning out.

Quietly she made her way to the door. Confident no one could hear her, she opened the squeaking portal and peeked outside. Darkness rushed at her; the thick cover of weeds and branches reached for her. Her eyes fought the darkness, searching the garden for Lukien or anyone else. Not a soul was seen or heard. She stepped out into the long shadows, closing the door carefully behind her. Beneath her feet she felt the wetness of dew. Cassandra inched forward, not sure if she should call out for Lukien. How else would he find her? She cleared the castle wall and headed deeper into the garden. The moonlit faces of neglected statues startled her. She steadied her breath and looked around. Aside from the silent statues, the garden was empty. Cassandra's heart sank.

Lukien, she thought desperately, where are you?

She dared not shout his name, yet she wanted to scream. Had she gotten the time wrong? Or worse, had she been duped?

'No," she whispered. Lukien wouldn't lie to her. He would be here, because he had promised it. But Cassandra knew she had no time to waste. If anyone else saw her first...

Cassandra watched him, suddenly understanding. He was lovesick. And understandably, he thought them the same age. But he was horribly embarrassed now, and his pain tugged at Cassandra.

'Don't be embarrassed," she said. She tried to smile. "I'm flattered, really."

'But you thought the note came from someone else." The boy sighed mirthlessly. "I should have known. If you thought it was me, you wouldn't have come."

'No," said Cassandra quickly. Then, "Well, yes, you're probably right. But I was mistaken, you see. I thought the note came from someone I know, someone I care about."

'Oh," said the boy. "So you've already got a... well, someone special." He gave a sad smile. "I shouldhave known that, too. You're so beautiful."

Cassandra flushed at the compliment. He seemed a kind boy, though shy. His awkwardness made her smile. Sixteen years ago, he could have been Akeela.

'What's your name?" she asked.

'Gilwyn Toms," he replied. "From the library."

'The library? Oh, yes, I've heard about you. My... uh, my friend mentioned you once."

'Really? Who's your friend?"

'Doesn't matter. But I have heard about you. You work with the old man."

'Figgis," said Gilwyn. "I'm his apprentice."

'And you saw me in the garden?"

'Yes." Gilwyn pointed toward Lionkeep. "I have a private place that I go sometimes, up there on that balcony."

Cassandra had to squint to see through the darkness. But there it was, a broken, abandoned balcony clinging to the side of the keep. Her heart sank when she saw it. How foolish she had been to risk her life that night. Yet now the risk seemed to be none at all. She patted her belly, feeling fine. The realization of good health made her laugh out loud.

'I'm all right," she chuckled. "I can't believe it."

'It's really not a bad bruise," said Gilwyn. "I told you, you'll be fine."

'Can you sit up?" asked the boy. Carefully he coaxed her up. "That's it. Easy..."

Cassandra put her hand to her forehead and gingerly touched the welt. Pain shot through her skull.

Miserable, she let out a defeated sigh. The boy was looking at her with a giant smile. Then she saw his left hand. It was twisted into a useless club, and when he noticed her studying it he pulled it back, hiding it at his side.

'I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to stare. I..." She shook her head. "I have to get out of here."

With the boy's help she rose unsteadily to her feet. Her head swam and she thought she would faint.

The boy saw her distress and kept his good hand on her, propping her up.

'Here," he said, guiding her toward the pear tree. "Sit down."

Cassandra sat, knowing she had no choice. Once she collected herself she could go back inside.

Then suddenly she thought of Lukien again, and looked around expectantly.

'Are you alone?" she asked the boy.

He laughed. "Of course. Who else would I bring? I thought you'd know I wanted to see you alone."

Cassandra looked at him dreadfully. "What?"

'My note." He studied her bruise as he spoke, obviously concerned. "This doesn't look too bad.

You'll be fine."

'Your note? You mean you sent it to me?"

The boy looked wounded. "Well, yes."

'But you're just a boy. I was expecting--" Cassandra caught herself, then shook her head and started laughing. "I don't believe it. What a fool I am!"

The boy leaned back, grimacing in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean anything wrong. I just wanted to meet you."

'Meet me? How do you even know me?"

'I saw you in the garden the night of the moon shadow. You were with an older woman. I saw you and, well..." He swallowed nervously. "You looked so beautiful, so nice. I just thought..."

His voice trailed off with a shrug, so ashamed he could no longer look at her. He pulled his clubbed hand into his sleeve.

Cassandra reached out and took his hand. "Yes, Gilwyn Toms, I am fine. Fine as the day I was born!"

Gilwyn looked at her oddly. "Uhm, well, that's wonderful."

'It is wonderful!" Cassandra's laughter rang through the garden. "Oh, thank you, Gilwyn Toms!"

'For what? I don't understand..."

'No, no you couldn't." Cassandra still had his hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "I'm sorry, I'mjust so happy!"

'Why?" asked Gilwyn. "About seeing me?"

Cassandra thought a moment, then said, "Exactly, Gilwyn, about seeing you." She leaned over and gave him a kiss, a gesture that made his eyes as wide as platters. "But I have to go now," Cassandra told him. She got to her feet.

'Wait," Gilwyn cried. He rose and stood before her, his smile twisting as he considered his words. "I mean, do you have to go already? I don't even know your name."

'My name?" Cassandra thought for a moment. "My name is Megal."

Gilwyn glowed. "Megal. That's a pretty name. But I never saw you before the moon shadow. Do you work in the keep?"

'Uh, yes, I do. I work for the queen. I'm a chambermaid."

'Really? You've seen the queen?"

'From time to time. Now really, I must go..."

'But I thought all Queen Cassandra's attendants were blind. That's what Warden Graig says."

'Warden Graig doesn't come to our part of the keep very much," said Cassandra, trying to be sweet.

"And don't believe everything you hear about the queen. Good night, Gilwyn Toms." Again she turned to go, and again the boy stopped her.

'Wait, just one more thing." Gilwyn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, gold-colored item.

He smiled as he showed it to Cassandra. "This is for you."

Cassandra studied the thing and saw to her astonishment that it was a ring. Not a valuable one, and certainly not lovely, but the manner of its giving had a beauty all its own. She reached out and took it, twirling it in the feeble moonlight. It was fairly ornate for a simple piece of bronze, and reasonably well forged. Not expensive, but she knew expense was a relative thing.

'You bought this for me?" she asked.

'Do you like it?" asked Gilwyn.

Cassandra nodded. She did like it, very much. "Yes. I think it's beautiful. But why?"

'Because I didn't want to come empty-handed," Gilwyn explained. "I thought you would expect something." He shrugged. "I figured you get gifts all the time."

What a beautifully naive boy, thought Cassandra. "No," she told him, "I don't. People are seldom as thoughtful as you. But you shouldn't have done it. It must have cost you a lot."

'Not a lot," said Gilwyn. "And it was worth it to see your face. Do you want to try it on?"

'I will, Gilwyn, I promise. But I can't stay long. I have to get back, before someone discovers I'm gone."

Disappointment shone on Gilwyn's face. "Oh. Well, yes, of course. You should go."

'Gilwyn," said Cassandra softly, "I know what you want to say. But I'm afraid I must refuse you. I can't see you again." She touched his cheek. The gesture made him melt. "You understand that, don't you?"

'Yes," said Gilwyn, nodding. "You've got someone already."

'That's right. But if I didn't, you would make a wonderful friend."

Gilwyn's smile was brighter than the moon. "Maybe we'll see each other again, Megal. I'm at the keep a lot. Maybe we can talk again sometime."

'Maybe," said Cassandra. "But don't tell anyone about us, all right? I'd be in trouble if the queen knew I was sneaking out at night!"

Naive to the last, Gilwyn said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm not supposed to be out here either!"

'Then we can keep each other's secret," laughed Cassandra. Deciding Gilwyn deserved a gift of his own, she slipped his ring onto her finger. "Ah, look," she exclaimed, admiring it. "It's lovely."